Year abroad

These pages contain all the information you need on your year abroad, be it as an assistant teaching in schools, as a student at a university, or on an industrial work placement/internship. Please refer to the different general categories including information which applies to all the students going abroad and if you need specific information depending on what you are going to do while abroad please refer to the sections detailing the assistantships and the Study Abroad scheme. The Academic Instructions apply to ALL STUDENTS GOING ABROAD so please make sure you read those carefully.

If your questions cannot be answered on this website, please feel free to contact us or use the contact information we have included for our partner universities or the British Council.

The Global Opportunities team also provides information and support to York students going abroad. Find out more on the Global You webpages, including details of finances and funding, the Global Opportunities calendar of events you are welcome to attend and details of how to contact the Global Peer Advisors.

You can also check out Global Graduates for general year abroad advice and student experiences.

Year abroad options

British Council assistantship

You can work as a British Council language assistant in schools.
You get paid a salary because this is a "job contract".
Short assistantships are available for German-speaking countries and Argentina.

Industrial work placements/Internships

All languages students are free to find their own work placement/internship in a French-, German-, Spanish- or Italian-speaking country.
Some students might be able to use contacts they already have.
Placements will have to be approved by the languages coordinators in the Department.
Current and former students were able to secure work placements with renowned companies such as AUDI, Deutsche Welle TV, Deutsche Telekom, Galvagni Schönheit, Deutsche Post, Deutsche Bahn, etc.

Study placements

Study at one of our partner universities

You can study for a semester or a year at one of our partner universities in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Mexico, Chile or Italy.

Please note Languages and History must do at least one semester of study at university

Exchange programme for students of English Language and/or Linguistics

Students on three year programmes can also apply for credit-replacing exchange to study abroad. Find out more about potential destinations on the Global opportunities by subject webpage.

Additional information

Further information about the British Council placements and our partner institutions can be found on the pages for assistantships and universities.

Please don't forget to also consult the academic instructions which explain the year abroad procedures and what you need to do in order to pass the year abroad.

Please note: All information about financial aspects of the year abroad, such as tuition fees, grants and salaries may change from year to year.